Pharmacy Daily | Blooms to roll out recycling scheme

BLOOMS The Chemist is set to introduce a blister pack recycling program across the group's 110 pharmacies from 07 Nov.

The launch of the scheme in partnership with recycling specialist, Pharmacycle, will see co-branded blister pack bins installed in all Blooms stores from next Mon.

Blooms Chief Operating Officer, Pamela Bishop, said the group was the first pharmacy brand to launch a blister pack recycling program across its entire network.

"More and more, our customers are telling us they want to be able to recycle common household medicinal waste," she said.

"We want to lead the pharmacy industry by example on environmental issues like recycling blister packs, which is why Blooms is excited to be partnering with Pharmacycle to offer our local communities a complete recycling solution.

"Additionally, it ensures our stores can recycle blister pack waste generated from their dispensary service.

"This program helps Blooms reduce our carbon footprint and supports our local communities to do the same."

Pharmacycle is aiming to have at least 500 drop-off locations across the country to improve access to blister pack recycling.

Pharmacycle's Recycling Operations Manager, Nicholas Klapsogiannis, said pharmacies can lead by example on recycling medicinal blister packs, as sufficient volumes are required to warrant the use of specialised recycling technology.

"Blister packs are a real problem for households because they cannot be recycled in household recycling and often end up in that stream as contaminants," he said.

"That's why this new partnership with Blooms is important because it provides the mechanism to achieve a better outcome for environmental impact."